Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-03-04
Cause and Effect.

AS regards outside competition Lynn,
Mass, has always been considered the
Gibraltar of the shoe trade. Ingenious ma
chinery, the subdivision of labor and the
skill of trained operatives have, until recent,
ly, enabled her to defy rivals in her special
line of industry. But, strong as she has
been against external assault she has not
been secure against internal foes. The
treachery Of trade unions within the citadel
has made g. breach in her defenses and let
the enemy through. Her position as g cen
tire and stronghold of the shoe trade is fas t
becoming q thing of the past. Such is the
result of persistent trade unionism.
The Vaccinations and partial successes of
the labor organizations at Lynn have, it is
said, already lost for that town work repre-
sen,iug 5000 hands and an annual payroll
of 50 100000 All this business has passed
under the control of communities where la
Dor unions do not flourish. as Massachu
setts is, unfortunately, q chosen field for the
dangerous schemes of these associations, the
shoe business has been gradually drifting
beyond the confines Of that State into New
Hampshire and Maine These States arc
comparatively free from such destructive
of Massachusetts capital which has
been driven from its own home.
Their tax laws favor all such additions to
their varied industries. 1t had been
supposed and earnestly hoped that the State
Board of Arbitration would prevent this
alarming exodus of q profitable branch OF
business. But the facts prove that the effect
of the official interference has been to pro
mote this diversion OF trade greatly to the
iojury of Massachusetts Rud to the benefit
of adjoining States Both the employers
and the worllmen would be better Off to-day
had there been no State arbtrators to med
die with their affairs. The existence Of the
Board has been constant encouragement
to strikers 1t has been their policy to
strike haphazard for increased wages, and
then bring to bear on tbs employers pres
sure Of public opinion which would compel
them to submit the issue to official arbitra-
ton, generally resulting in compromise at
she expense Of the latter. But for this state
Boa rd the men would not have struck has
tiy and without more sufficient cause, and
the employers would not have been called
upon "for the sake OF peace" TO pay higher
rates of wages than they could really afford.
And when the decision of the Board is &C.
cepted on both Sides there IS only truce of
sixty days duration, ut tie esd Of which
the trade unioni5ts mag strike again and in
woke the aid cfauother arbitration, and SO
on. Unless this tendency can be success
fully resisted it is only question of time
when Lynn will cease to manufacture shoes.
Not only New Hampshire and Maine, but
the little villages of Massachusetts, which
have been gradually encroaohing upon the
Lynn monopol?, will parcel out her inl-
brci
There are many signs that the trade
unions are losing their grip on their followers
and dupes. The late strikes in this city fail
ed because (among other ressons) the unions
could not enforce strict discipline among
their members. 1t may also be added that
the absence of interference on the part of
our own State Arbitration Board fastened
the collapse OF the strike. If the Board had
obtruded its advice-no matter how good its
purpose-tho difficulty would perhaps have
been prolonged to the present day. Not
withstanding the support which the Lynn
ehoemakers receive from the Massachusetts
arbitrators, there is among the former 8
good proportion of sensible men who prefer
TO return to the old method Of settling
troubles directly with their employers.
They are preparing to throw of the trade
union yoke. They are men who, during
their long years OF labor in Lynn-before
the strikes had injured the prosperity of the
town-had laid up money and bought their
comfortable homes there. They now see
that these labor agitations have the effect of
imparing the property valuations and re.
tarding the development of Lynn. Nothing
brings man SO quickly to his senses-when
strikes are threatened-as consciousness
that he will suffer along with his employers
even when the object of the strike is nomi-
nally gained There ere few, if any, strikes
SO successful that they do not end in net
loss to those engaged in them. When this
truth comes to be fully realized there will
be fewer of these wanton disturbances-N
Y. Journal of Commerce.